All of the family's dozen or so children went to school, including Niu Baozhu, who enrolled early, and Zhao Guangzong, who also studied at Niushan School.

Niu Cuihua and Niu Baozhu discussed how to ambush Zhao Guangzong on his way home from school and beat him up to vent their anger. Niu Cuihua said:

"He's one, but we have ten of us. We can beat him up however we want! Call Sang Rong and the rest of Sang Zhen over here! They dare to bully my sister? Do they really think our family is easy to bully!"

Xiao Heng did not participate in the beating; for someone who had lived two lives, there was no need to beat a child.

After they finished beating him, Xiao Heng squatted down and asked with a smile, "Kid, does it hurt?" "Go back and tell your father what crime it is for a village head to forcibly seize farmland and arbitrarily increase taxes."

In his previous life, he only learned when he was twelve years old that the minor officials in Niushan County, Jiangzhou, were arbitrarily increasing taxes, and the tax collection situation was quite serious.

Hundreds of people appealed to the Jiangzhou government.

Ji Ninghai requested a thorough investigation of Niushan County.

Niushan Village is located in the center of Niushan County, although its location is not as close to four counties as that of Niushan County town.

But it's the village closest to the county seat.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be too barren.

The reason is that the taxes in Niushan County are heavier than those in other counties. It goes without saying that merchants have the money to pay taxes, but every household in Niushan County has to pay four cents of tax every year.

Ensuring that people could eat rice every day was a difficult task, leading to extreme poverty among the people of Niushan County.

Taxes are skimmed off when they reach the village head, then skimmed off again when they reach the county magistrate, and then skimmed off yet another layer when they reach Magistrate Li.

Twenty percent of the tax revenue went into their pockets.

However, the imperial court stipulated that only 20% of taxes should be collected.

Many farmers never manage to improve their lives.

The imperial court sought out landlords, who then squeezed out poor peasants, while lower-ranking officials and bureaucrats had to peel off layers of skin and tendons.

Zhao Guangzong narrowed his eyes slightly, quickly got up and ran away.

Although his family had some ancestral property, it amounted to no more than a thousand taels of silver, and they owned no more than fifty acres of fertile land. They lost two thousand taels of silver raising fish, and most of their wealth was acquired through extortion.

In order to regain control of Guhu, Chief Zhao went to Magistrate Wang's residence. After Chunniang and her son were driven away, Aunt Xiang was promoted to the position of Magistrate Wang's fourth wife.

When Magistrate Wang and Village Chief Zhao met, Aunt Xiang naturally instructed people to serve tea and water.

Village Chief Zhao didn't have anything valuable on hand right now. He had lost over two thousand taels of silver raising fish, so he could only embellish the story, saying, "Sir, you don't know, that place in Guhu is a land of outstanding people and excellent environment. Niu Da released tens of thousands of fish fry there. If we could get them, we could sell them for a fortune."

"During the Spring and Autumn Period, Tao Zhugong once said that there were five ways to make money, and aquaculture ranked first, which shows how profitable fish farming is." "Moreover, we don't have to pay for the fish fry, so we save a lot of money!"

Although Magistrate Wang was greedy, he was not stupid. He said:

"How could Niu Da possibly give this away so easily?"

Village Chief Zhao said:

"My lord, you are an official, and he is a commoner. Moreover, he has no sons or daughters, only a younger brother. Although he is a scholar, it is uncertain whether he will pass the imperial examination next year."

“His daughters are all unmarried, and he has no adopted daughters or sons-in-law. As soon as he dies, 30% of his property will be confiscated. Even if he doesn’t die, it’s just a matter of you saying a word if he wants to take over Guhu!” said Village Chief Zhao.

Magistrate Wang stroked his not-so-long beard. To him, human life was nothing but child's play. He was originally a pig butcher and had killed his first wife. He didn't believe in any hellish retribution.

County Magistrate Wang was unaware that the Niu family was related to his superior by marriage and had even adopted a goddaughter. Village Chief Zhao deliberately kept this a secret, fearing that if he did, County Magistrate Wang would no longer be willing to seize Guhu.

Ji Ninghai took office half a year ago, and he hadn't figured out the new governor's temperament. He just thought that all crows are black, and if the higher-ups found out, he could just slip some money to them.

Magistrate Wang suddenly remembered the prisoners that Magistrate Li had locked up in jail a few months ago. Magistrate Li was also greedy and lustful. If he weren't greedy, those notorious bandits could have been executed by autumn. But Magistrate Li kept them locked up in jail, providing them with good food and drink.

Magistrate Li planned to release these notorious bandits once the matter had faded from public memory.

After all, everyone in the government office had received a considerable amount of money.

When Zhao, the village chief, returned, he heard his son Zhao Guangzong talk about being beaten at school, and Zhao also told him what Xiao Heng had said.

But Village Chief Zhao didn't take it to heart.

What does an eleven-year-old know?

Zhao Zhaodi brought tea to Zhao, the village chief. She envied the Niu family's daughters for having parents who doted on them. Besides the Niu family, the Niu Xiaocao family also doted on their daughters.

Several families in the Zhao household doted on their daughters.

If only she were their daughter, even if she were to be Aunt Hu's granddaughter, only able to eat one meal and half a bowl of porridge a day, it would still be good.

Zhao Zhaodi was so thin that it was somewhat frightening to look at.

If her mother goes out to play cards, sometimes she will come to play with Xiao Fubao, and Xiao Fubao will give her an egg pancake.

But she dared not go out to play every day. If Huang Jingui came back and didn't see her working, she would break her bones.

"Where did your mother go? Why isn't she back to cook?" Village Chief Zhao asked.

“Daddy, Zhao Di has grown up. Zhao Di can cook for you too!” Her mother went to play cards at the teahouse next door.

"You're not thinking of sneaking a bite, are you?" Village Chief Zhao asked suspiciously.

She was so hungry. She hadn't eaten for five days since her brother died. Her stomach would hurt in the middle of the night, and when it hurt, her mother would stomp on her stomach.

Of course she wanted to steal some food, but she couldn't tell her father; he would beat her anyway: "Zhao Di wouldn't steal food! Zhao Di wouldn't dare! Zhao Di will be obedient!"

Village Chief Zhao snorted coldly: "I knew you wouldn't dare. Go and cook!"

Zhao Zhaodi was malnourished, and at only five years old, she was only about the same height as the stove when she stood on a stool. She cooked a few dishes, but she was so hungry that she couldn't help but steal a few bites of food before wiping her mouth clean.

During dinner, Huang Jingui returned after playing mahjong.

Neither Village Chief Zhao nor Huang Jingui noticed that she was sneaking food. Perhaps Huang Jingui had won money and was in a good mood, so she unusually allowed Zhao Zhaodi to sit and eat with them.

That night, the Zhao family quickly fell asleep.

The Niu family also fell asleep quickly, except for little Fu Bao, who kept her eyes open and darted around. She nestled in Xiao Heng's arms like a little rabbit.

Those thieves were indeed released.

They encountered the same problem as before, but this time they were even more unlucky. As they walked to the banyan tree and prepared to leave, a strange scene unfolded.